😐A single person spends $1,003 per month in Medellin vs $528 in Az-zabadani, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $1,573 per month in Medellin vs $810 in Az-zabadani, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $2,143 per month in Medellin vs $1,091 in Az-zabadani, rent included.
😐Medellin costs about 90% more than Az-zabadani, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.
📊Both Medellin and Az-zabadani are more affordable than the global median – Medellin25% lower, Az-zabadani60% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Medellin
Az-zabadani
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$5.91COP 18.6K
$5.95SYP 723
-0.67%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$32.96COP 103.8K
$27.99SYP 3,401
17.76%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$7.43COP 23.4K
$5.64SYP 686
31.74%
Cappuccino
$1.65COP 5,207
$1.51SYP 183
9.27%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.10COP 3,468
$1.12SYP 136
-1.79%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.78COP 2,458
$0.69SYP 83.6
13.04%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.72COP 5,412
$1.57SYP 190
9.55%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.18COP 10.0K
$2.53SYP 308
25.69%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Medellin
Az-zabadani
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.10COP 3,474
$1.03SYP 125
6.80%
White Bread(500g)
$1.26COP 3,962
$0.63SYP 76.7
100.00%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.38COP 4,349
$1.76SYP 214
-21.59%
Eggs
$2.18COP 6,858
$1.94SYP 236
12.37%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$4.49COP 14.1K
$2.99SYP 364
50.17%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$5.79COP 18.2K
$7.79SYP 946
-25.67%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$8.97COP 28.2K
$11.43SYP 1,389
-21.52%
Apples(1kg)
$2.32COP 7,308
$0.93SYP 113
149.46%
Banana(1kg)
$1.06COP 3,352
$1.76SYP 214
-39.77%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.52COP 4,774
$0.99SYP 121
53.54%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.36COP 4,270
$0.88SYP 106
54.55%
Potato(1kg)
$1.13COP 3,552
$0.61SYP 74.3
85.25%
Onion(1kg)
$1.17COP 3,689
$0.63SYP 76.2
85.71%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.90COP 2,838
$0.37SYP 45.22
143.24%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.90COP 2,823
$0.61SYP 74.4
47.54%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.23COP 7,034
$3.08SYP 374
-27.60%
Wine(Bottle)
$12.12COP 38.2K
$7.75SYP 942
56.39%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.19COP 3,743
$0.98SYP 119
21.43%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.48COP 7,815
$1.76SYP 213
40.91%
🚌 Getting Around
Medellin
Az-zabadani
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.85COP 2,687
-
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$41.62COP 131.0K
-
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.42COP 4,459
$0.97SYP 118
46.39%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.95COP 6,141
$1.27SYP 154
53.54%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$7.89COP 24.8K
$6.48SYP 788
21.76%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.99COP 3,118
$3.78SYP 459
-73.81%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$17.6KCOP 55.4M
$18.2KSYP 2.2M
-3.10%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.8KCOP 84.4M
$20.9KSYP 2.5M
28.13%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Medellin
Az-zabadani
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$83.0COP 261.4K
$101SYP 12.2K
-17.46%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$9.70COP 30.5K
$8.30SYP 1,008
16.87%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$23.52COP 74.1K
$54.7SYP 6,650
-57.03%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Medellin
Az-zabadani
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$25.26COP 79.5K
-
-
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$19.10COP 60.1K
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$3.95COP 12.4K
$2.97SYP 361
33.00%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Medellin
Az-zabadani
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$316COP 994.2K
$43.25SYP 5,255
630.15%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$5,975COP 18.8M
$1,849SYP 224.6K
223.22%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Medellin
Az-zabadani
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$60.0COP 188.9K
$29.10SYP 3,536
106.19%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$31.82COP 100.2K
$25.48SYP 3,096
24.88%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$102COP 320.1K
$45.71SYP 5,554
122.42%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$107COP 338.3K
$57.0SYP 6,919
88.67%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Medellin
Az-zabadani
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$475COP 1.5M
-
-
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$374COP 1.2M
-
-
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$849COP 2.7M
-
-
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$719COP 2.3M
-
-
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,265COP 10.3M
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,441COP 4.5M
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Medellin
Az-zabadani
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$624COP 2.0M
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
13.43
13.75
-2.33%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Medellin: July 27, 2026
Last update for Az-zabadani: July 27, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🛒A mid-range dinner for two costs $33.00 in Medellin versus $28.00 in Az-zabadani. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $193 vs $173 – making Az-zabadani the more affordable choice for daily food spending.
City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated April 2026)
The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.
Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index
Medellin vs Az-zabadani: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Medellin or Az-zabadani?
Medellin costs about 90% more than Az-zabadani, with the gap driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Medellin and in Az-zabadani?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,504 per month in Medellin and $792 in Az-zabadani. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
How do dining costs compare in Medellin and in Az-zabadani?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $33.00 in Medellin and $28.00 in Az-zabadani. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
Are groceries more expensive in Medellin or in Az-zabadani?
Groceries cost about 12% more in Medellin, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.
Can you live on $1,000/month in Medellin or in Az-zabadani?
A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Az-zabadani, where all-in costs run around $528, than in Medellin at $1,003. In Az-zabadani it covers expenses comfortably, while in Medellin it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Medellin or Az-zabadani?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Az-zabadani costs $528 versus $1,003 in Medellin. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.
Should I move to Medellin or to Az-zabadani?
If budget matters most, go with Az-zabadani. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Medellin makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.